Nokia Lumia 730 review

The Nokia Lumia 730 currently has an Informr score of 7.5 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 20
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Comfortable grip

Removable battery

MicroSD card support

Dual SIM support

Wide angle front camera lens

What's bad

Weak low-light camera performance

Limited on-board storage

Weak gaming performance

Lack of apps

With the recent purchase of Nokia by Microsoft, many have wondered how the Lumia series will hold up without it’s famous name. As the last handset to be released under the Nokia label, does the Nokia 730 go out with a bang or simply fizzle? Let’s check out the reviews!

If you’ve seen a Nokia handset, then you know what to expect from the design of the mid-tier Lumia. Strong lines, clean surfaces and a refined yet minimal approach are something you will either love or hate. Most reviews found the design of the phone to be stellar, with little flex or give in the body and a nice firm grip. Engadget hailed the phone as “one of the most comfortable phones I've held in a while.”

The collection of colored cases available don’t just add visual flair. While the phone looks like a unibody design, the rear cover is removable to allow access to the battery, microSD slot and SIM card slots. The 730 is also a dual SIM model, allowing for greater flexibility. Reviews noted that the covers slide on and off easily, while still holding firmly in place during use. One note mentioned by many reviews is the finish on the orange cover. While the other covers feature a matte finish, the orange uses a gloss finish that is prone to fingerprints and scratches.

The body houses a 4.7-inch, 1,280 x 720 AMOLED screen. Typical of these screens, reviews noted great contrast and color saturation. While not as high as some flagship devices, the screen also features a pixel density that is quite high for the mid-tier market. Nokia’s ClearBlack technology accents the AMOLED display, allowing for improved contrast is sunlight. The technology appears to work well with GSM Arena calling the display “among the best in bright light.”

Powering the phone is Windows Phone 8.1 and a quad-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor with 1GB of RAM. All reviews noted that performance with basic tasks was snappy and smooth. Engadget says, “You'd be hard-pressed to tell that this wasn't a flagship just by steering through the basic Windows Phone interface.” Unfortunately, many reviews also noted a lack of power for 3D games or other processor intensive apps. GSM Arena summed up performance well, stating, “offers pleasing performance that would be more than enough for non-power users.”

To store your apps, music and videos, the phone offers 8GB of internal storage. NDTV notes that “Around half of the 8GB of internal storage space is used by system files.” If you plan to use your phone heavily, taking advantage of the microSD card support is almost essential. Fortunately, the phone supports cards up to 128GB in size, allowing for plenty of expansion possibilities.

Marketed as a phone for selfies, the Lumia 730 sports a 5MP front-facing camera with a wide-angle 24mm lens. The rear-facing camera is 6.7MP and offers a LED flash for better shots in low light. Reviews on the camera were average across the board. Many noted a lack of performance in low-light situations unless you’re willing to dig in and tweak camera settings. However, all reviews applauded the included Lumia Camera app for its intuitive controls and wide range of options.

Overall, reviews of the final Nokia handset are positive. While it won’t compete with flagship models, it was never intended to. While it might not do everything, reviews indicate that what it does, it does well. NDTV called it “a perfect mid-range phone” while TechTree summed up the phone best, saying, “It won't top any benchmark tests, but it does offer features that are actually useful.”

What the Critics Are Saying...

The Microsoft Lumia 735 offers a great customizable design and impressive battery life on a budget, but other phones can do more for your money.

- Robert Nazarian, Digital Trends

Save for a camera that surprises simply by virtue of the fact that it’s not as low-level as the rest of the phone, there isn’t much that’s special about the Lumia 735. But that’s not the point. The sort of audience this phone is targeting isn’t looking for special. It&r...

- Grant Hatchimonji, Brighthand

If you're looking for the best combination of low-cost hardware and high-productivity software, the Lumia 735 has you covered in spades.

- Eric M. Zeman, Phone Scoop

Microsoft's Nokia Lumia 735 is a very good middle-class smartphone. The phone is ships with an up-to-date OS, offers plenty of performance, supports LTE and features good cameras as well. Although the chassis is made from polycarbonate, the overall as well as the build quality are impressive.The 8 G...

- Daniel Schmidt, Notebookcheck

Microsoft's Nokia Lumia 735 is a very good middle-class smartphone. The phone is ships with an up-to-date OS, offers plenty of performance, supports LTE and features good cameras as well. Although the chassis is made from polycarbonate, the overall as well as the build quality are impressive.The 8 G...

If your Lumia 730 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Nokia support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Nokia's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Critic Reviews

Perfect for the casual user, but it’s limited for the power user

The Microsoft Lumia 735 is a nice phone for the money, but it’s tough to recommend something that just launched in the U.S. so long after it was released. If it’s a Windows Phone you want, you’d be better off with a Lumia 640 XL for $57 more on AT&T or the Lumia 950, which is coming to AT&T soon, sports Windows 10, and includes flagship specs. It has a bigger 5.7-inch display and a better camera. However, if you’re stuck with Verizon Wireless, the Lumia 735 is your only option for a Windows phone...

The Microsoft Lumia 735 is a nice phone for the money, but it’s tough to recommend something that just launched in the U.S. so long after it was released. If it’s a Windows Phone you want, you’d be better off with a Lumia 640 XL for $57 more on AT&T or the Lumia 950, which is coming to AT&T soon, sports Windows 10, and includes flagship specs. It has a bigger 5.7-inch display and a better camera. However, if you’re stuck with Verizon Wireless, the Lumia 735 is your only option for a Windows phone.

Still not sure whether you want to be in the Microsoft ecosystem? There are a few Android phones that have better specs for the same money: The Moto G 2015 is at the top of this list, followed by the HTC Desire 626. These phones offer better specs and more available apps. The other plus is that you can still enjoy all the popular Microsoft apps like Outlook, Office, and even Cortana on these devices as well.

A decent option for those looking for a low- to mid-tier device

Save for a camera that surprises simply by virtue of the fact that it’s not as low-level as the rest of the phone, there isn’t much that’s special about the Lumia 735. But that’s not the point. The sort of audience this phone is targeting isn’t looking for special. It’s looking for simple, and it’s looking for cheap...

Save for a camera that surprises simply by virtue of the fact that it’s not as low-level as the rest of the phone, there isn’t much that’s special about the Lumia 735. But that’s not the point. The sort of audience this phone is targeting isn’t looking for special. It’s looking for simple, and it’s looking for cheap.

The Lumia 735 manages to fulfill at least one of those criteria; while the Windows Phone OS is pretty straightforward and user friendly, this particular handset could stand to be a little cheaper than its retail price of $300 off-contract. To put this into perspective, I paid only $60 more for the vastly superior – at least from a hardware standpoint – second-generation Moto X, also off-contract.

But while you could do better for the price, you could also certainly do worse. Impressive battery life and a decent display put the Lumia 735 above some of the entry-level competition, so don’t completely write it off if you’re in the market for a lower end phone.

Performed well, especially for a mid-range handset

The Lumia 735 from Microsoft is a solid phone. It performs well across the board, and offers a balanced feature set. The hardware is put together well. The attractive screen is sized just right, meaning the 735 is comfortable to hold and use. Call quality on Verizon's network was excellent, data speeds were decent, and the battery did a commendable job. Some people will like that the 735 has a removable battery and supports memory cards....

The Lumia 735 from Microsoft is a solid phone. It performs well across the board, and offers a balanced feature set. The hardware is put together well. The attractive screen is sized just right, meaning the 735 is comfortable to hold and use. Call quality on Verizon's network was excellent, data speeds were decent, and the battery did a commendable job. Some people will like that the 735 has a removable battery and supports memory cards.

Windows Phone 8.1 may not be for everyone, but it’s a fine smartphone platform and covers the basics well. The 735 offers plenty of options for customizing the home screen and other behaviors. Microsoft apps such as Office, OneDrive, OneNote, and Cortana add a lot of value to the 735, and the processor/memory combo kept the 735 humming along swiftly.

A good middle-class smartphone with decent cameras on both sides and a comprehensive set of features

Microsoft's Nokia Lumia 735 is a very good middle-class smartphone. The phone is ships with an up-to-date OS, offers plenty of performance, supports LTE and features good cameras as well. Although the chassis is made from polycarbonate, the overall as well as the build quality are impressive.

The 8 GB of internal storage provide less space than expected, since less than 3 GB are actually usable. At least expansion is easy via a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. Speaking of expectations: the shipping box contains only the power adapter, which is stingy considering the MSRP of 299 Euro (~$340)...

Microsoft's Nokia Lumia 735 is a very good middle-class smartphone. The phone is ships with an up-to-date OS, offers plenty of performance, supports LTE and features good cameras as well. Although the chassis is made from polycarbonate, the overall as well as the build quality are impressive.

The 8 GB of internal storage provide less space than expected, since less than 3 GB are actually usable. At least expansion is easy via a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. Speaking of expectations: the shipping box contains only the power adapter, which is stingy considering the MSRP of 299 Euro (~$340).

Despite the shortcomings, the Lumia 735 is a very well-rounded package with a good display and satisfying battery life. Although the Moto G offers superior performance in some categories, the Lumia pulls ahead in other areas.

A good middle-class smartphone with comprehensive set of features

Microsoft's Nokia Lumia 735 is a very good middle-class smartphone. The phone is ships with an up-to-date OS, offers plenty of performance, supports LTE and features good cameras as well. Although the chassis is made from polycarbonate, the overall as well as the build quality are impressive.

The 8 GB of internal storage provide less space than expected, since less than 3 GB are actually usable. At least expansion is easy via a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. Speaking of expectations: the shipping box contains only the power adapter, which is stingy considering the MSRP of 299 Euro (~$340)...

Microsoft's Nokia Lumia 735 is a very good middle-class smartphone. The phone is ships with an up-to-date OS, offers plenty of performance, supports LTE and features good cameras as well. Although the chassis is made from polycarbonate, the overall as well as the build quality are impressive.

The 8 GB of internal storage provide less space than expected, since less than 3 GB are actually usable. At least expansion is easy via a MicroSD card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. Speaking of expectations: the shipping box contains only the power adapter, which is stingy considering the MSRP of 299 Euro (~$340).

Despite the shortcomings, the Lumia 735 is a very well-rounded package with a good display and satisfying battery life. Although the Moto G offers superior performance in some categories, the Lumia pulls ahead in other areas.

Stylish design, great selfie camera but Windows Phone feels stuttery

The Nokia Lumia 730 lives up to the promise of being a great phone for those who like to take selfies. It’s not just that, though: with one of the best designs among its peers and an improved camera app it is a good phone overall. On the downside, Windows Phone just does not feel as snappy as Android does on a similar configuration, and you’d see apps loading too long too often. We’re also not perfectly happy with the default display color mode on the Lumia 730, which comes with overblown, unreal colors. Luckily, those who care about accurate colors have the option to fine tune the screen to their liking...

The Nokia Lumia 730 lives up to the promise of being a great phone for those who like to take selfies. It’s not just that, though: with one of the best designs among its peers and an improved camera app it is a good phone overall. On the downside, Windows Phone just does not feel as snappy as Android does on a similar configuration, and you’d see apps loading too long too often. We’re also not perfectly happy with the default display color mode on the Lumia 730, which comes with overblown, unreal colors. Luckily, those who care about accurate colors have the option to fine tune the screen to their liking.

At a price of $320 (€200 in Europe), the market is filled with rival Android phones, though. The Motorola Moto G (2014 edition) is a cheaper phone with a larger, 5” screen that offers the same Snapdragon 400 chip with a much smoother performance, and access to the richer Android ecosystem. Then, if you prefer a larger display, you can get the excellent HTC Desire 816 for around the same price, and you get a 5.5” 720p display, a Snapdragon 400 system chip, and a very capable 8-megapixel camera. Next, if you care about great design, you need to look no further than the iPhone 6-like Blu Vivo Air with its 4.8” 720p AMOLED display, and an equally capable MediaTek chip. Finally, you also have the LG G3 s, a 5” 720p phone with a Snapdragon 400 SoC. It’s a good performer with its physical keys on its back, which adds an interesting twist to usability.

If you feel an attraction for Microsoft’s Live Tiles and Windows Phone on the whole, though, and have an affinity for selfies, the Lumia 730 is a device that has more pros than cons. Microsoft is also promising to upgrade it to Windows 10 in the future, so you probably should not be worried about updates as much as someone owning an Android phone would.

Battling it out in the crowded mid-range

The Nokia Lumia 735 is a fairly decent phone that does well in many areas. The Lumia 735 is well designed, the materials used make the handset feel great in the hand and look nice as well. It doesn't venture far from the standard Lumia design, and as far as I'm concerned that's a good thing becau...More

The Nokia Lumia 735 is a fairly decent phone that does well in many areas. The Lumia 735 is well designed, the materials used make the handset feel great in the hand and look nice as well. It doesn't venture far from the standard Lumia design, and as far as I'm concerned that's a good thing because not every mid-range device is tough, dependable and also reasonably stylish. Ideally this handset would be a little slimmer and more compact, but it is what it is.

Just don't call it a selfie phone

Sitting alongside its Lumia 830 stablemate in terms of power, the Nokia Lumia 735 mixes things up in the camera department, making a case for the presence of these two similar devices. Camera performance from both front and back snappers is good, even if the Lumia Selfie app is currently flawed....

Sitting alongside its Lumia 830 stablemate in terms of power, the Nokia Lumia 735 mixes things up in the camera department, making a case for the presence of these two similar devices. Camera performance from both front and back snappers is good, even if the Lumia Selfie app is currently flawed.

However, the Lumia 735 is available for just over £200 SIM-free, meaning it's something of a bargain, and if anything raises the question over the value of the Lumia 830. At that price, the performance is fitting - although we daresay that similar spec Android devices are faster for day-to-day operation.

The overall result is that the Lumia 735 offers a good size and build, with enough power to hit all the spec essentials. It might not quite elevate itself to excellence, but it's certainly a good mid-range Windows Phone at an attractive price.

Ending on a high note

The Nokia Lumia 730 Dual SIM is a polished smartphone. We would, in fact, go as far as to state that this phone is the best Windows Phone alternative to the dependable Moto G (2nd Gen). It has a pleasing design, good cameras, consistent overall performance and great battery life. We believe that Microsoft has a winner on its hands with the Lumia 730 Dual SIM....

The Nokia Lumia 730 Dual SIM is a polished smartphone. We would, in fact, go as far as to state that this phone is the best Windows Phone alternative to the dependable Moto G (2nd Gen). It has a pleasing design, good cameras, consistent overall performance and great battery life. We believe that Microsoft has a winner on its hands with the Lumia 730 Dual SIM.

For those who are happy with Microsoft's smartphone ecosystem or just getting started with smartphones, the Lumia 730 Dual SIM is a perfect mid-range phone. For people who are already entrenched in Android or iOS or who need a lot of apps, it will take a leap of faith.

Hits the right balance between manageability and screen real estate

Microsoft is doing well to shake things up in the Lumia lineup. A couple of devices shown at IFA in September have hit the shelves and, the software boost courtesy of Lumia Denim aside, the lineup is being updated in the right place. The upgrades are even slightly overdue perhaps - busy adding a tablet and a couple of phablets to the lineup, along with dual-SIM support and cheap screen real estate, Nokia and Microsoft somehow overlooked the midrange...

Microsoft is doing well to shake things up in the Lumia lineup. A couple of devices shown at IFA in September have hit the shelves and, the software boost courtesy of Lumia Denim aside, the lineup is being updated in the right place. The upgrades are even slightly overdue perhaps - busy adding a tablet and a couple of phablets to the lineup, along with dual-SIM support and cheap screen real estate, Nokia and Microsoft somehow overlooked the midrange.

The Lumia 720 went nearly two years without an upgrade and it was by no means a phone that deserves such treatment. OK, this maybe just our opinion but we liked the 720 and the Lumia 735 we've just finished reviewing is showing due respect as well.

LTE and HD screen resolution look nice on the list of upgrades but the good news don't end there. It's an AMOLED screen now with the ClearBlack technology for great contrast and outdoor legibility. The 5MP wide-angle front cam is perfect for selfies and the 1080p videos are welcome as well.

The phone handles great and still looks good, although honestly it's not going to wow onlookers. Well familiar and deliberately understated, it's a design we've seen minor variations of on many Lumia handsets. Fair enough. This is one of the last Lumia phones to carry a Nokia brand and Redmond may be saving the fresh hardware for the ones that have the Microsoft logo. Just a thought.

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